The Mass Media

The role of newspapers, radio, TV,and Internet in influencing public

opinion and politics

The Mass Media’s Purpose

» Entertain» Report the news» Identify public problems» Provide a political forum» Privately held media is designed to

make a profit

» Entertain» Report the news» Identify public problems» Provide a political forum» Privately held media is designed to

make a profit

Newspapers

» 19th century had high speed presses to publish newspapers

» In the 1890’s William Randolph Hearst used his newspaper to whip up support for US entrance in the Spanish-American War

» Sensationalist reporting is called “yellow journalism”

» 19th century had high speed presses to publish newspapers

» In the 1890’s William Randolph Hearst used his newspaper to whip up support for US entrance in the Spanish-American War

» Sensationalist reporting is called “yellow journalism”

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Radio

» Radio provided news and entertainment in the 1920’s

» In the 30’s Franklin Roosevelt used the radio to make weekly “fireside chats” to calm the nation

» Today “talk radio” hosts Limbaugh and Hannity deliver a primarily conservative message.

» Radio provided news and entertainment in the 1920’s

» In the 30’s Franklin Roosevelt used the radio to make weekly “fireside chats” to calm the nation

» Today “talk radio” hosts Limbaugh and Hannity deliver a primarily conservative message.

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Television

» Television became a regular part of people’s living room in the 50’s

» The first televised presidential debate was between Nixon and Kennedy in 1960

» Johnson ran an effective political add in 1964 against Goldwater

» Television became a regular part of people’s living room in the 50’s

» The first televised presidential debate was between Nixon and Kennedy in 1960

» Johnson ran an effective political add in 1964 against Goldwater

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Internet

» Internet was invented in the 1990’s and now has a crucial place for news and politics

» In 2004 democratic candidate Howard Dean used Internet for fundraising.

» President Obama used the Internet very effectively in his recent Presidential campaign.

» Internet was invented in the 1990’s and now has a crucial place for news and politics

» In 2004 democratic candidate Howard Dean used Internet for fundraising.

» President Obama used the Internet very effectively in his recent Presidential campaign.

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Does Media influence public opinion?

» YES -» Television personalizes candidates» Media consumers influence others» Media sets national agenda» Advocacy journalism brings issues

to the public» Media links public to government

» YES -» Television personalizes candidates» Media consumers influence others» Media sets national agenda» Advocacy journalism brings issues

to the public» Media links public to government

Does the Media influence public opinion?

» NO -» The public pays little attention to news» People often forget what they see in

political ads» People focus on the media that they

already agree with» People choose media for entertainment,

not news» Profit motive leads to trivializing news to

boost ratings

» NO -» The public pays little attention to news» People often forget what they see in

political ads» People focus on the media that they

already agree with» People choose media for entertainment,

not news» Profit motive leads to trivializing news to

boost ratings

Is the Media biased?

» Conservative talk show hosts think the mainstream media (TV networks and newspapers) has liberal bias.

» Liberals feel that “talk radio” has a conservative bias and mainstream media is either objective or supports the “status quo”

» What do you think? Can you give examples of media bias?

» Conservative talk show hosts think the mainstream media (TV networks and newspapers) has liberal bias.

» Liberals feel that “talk radio” has a conservative bias and mainstream media is either objective or supports the “status quo”

» What do you think? Can you give examples of media bias?